Notes / Commercial Description:
First brewed back in 2004, Curieux was our first foray into barrel aging. To make Curieux, we take our Tripel and let it age in bourbon barrels for seven weeks. Once that time is up, we take the beer out of our cold cellars and blend it back with a portion of fresh Tripel. The resulting rich, golden ale features smooth notes of coconut, vanilla, and a hint of bourbon.

Reviews by streetcommander:

This is perhaps the best beer I've ever had. Many times the product can't match hype and propaganda, but this is the impressive exception we all painstakingly drink so many beers searching for.

I'm not generally a fan of high gravity beers or the state of Maine, but I give a sincere hat tip to the folks at this brewery, they are true artisans.

Cold crisp and refreshing. No booze taste, no sweet syrups, no chemical adjuncts, just simple perfection, just as Almighty God intended it.

My only consternation is the price. A craftsman is due his craft's market value, that I will never deny him, but damnit, this stuff should flow from fast food fountain drink dispensers with free refills...in my Utopia. The price of admission is steep, at $15 per 22oz. At $50 per 22oz, it would still be worthy.

More User Reviews:

4.99/5 rDev +16.6%

One of the nicer things done in a bourbon barrel in a very long time.
Nose: light fruit, hint of caramel, vanilla, light malts. spice
Hazy straw to gold under a quickly dissipating yet clingy and easy roused 1" foam cap with a very fine bead.
A yeast driven palate beginning with caramel, melon, banana, light fruit, vanilla, a hint of bourbon, a little nuttiness and a faint touch of pepper and a suggestion of hops. The beer shows astounding balance of flavor between the layers of malt, yeast, bourbon barrel and alcohol flavors.
The alcohol is stealthy - a slight warming announces its presence but there are no harsh, hot or solventy flavors to betray its presence. The body is just below medium and the carbonation is above average but not harsh or carbonic.
Le petit Jésus en culotte de velours

Over the years on BA, I've given several perfect ratings while others have never given one..

"The perfect beer can never be achieved...", they say...

"No beer is worthy of a 5 rating!", they exclaim...

Well.... Guess what?

Just gave another one... and this one is as worthy, if not more so, than all of the others...

Here's the catch.... I've had this beer before... several times actually... How I haven't reviewed this is a mystery to me.. Every time I drink this, I enjoy it more and more and I'm finally giving it the recognition that it so richly deserves in my eyes..

Along with La Fin du Monde, this is easily the best tripel on the planet... It's gorgeous to behold in a St. Bernardus chalice... Glowing golden as if it's been touched by King Midas himself... Lovely active carbonation... Perfection...

Heavenly aromas of Belgian yeast, sweet pears, rich coconut, crisp apples, fleeting aromas of bourbon... they blend to create a sublime sensory experience... If I could capture this essence, I would wear this as a cologne and fend the women off as best I could... Remarkably fragrant in the manner of that first whiff of the hyacinths blooming out front... Incredible...

Sweet and yeasty up front followed quickly by a wave of bourbon, coconut, and booze... Intoxicatingly delicious, this beer is a star and knows it... a man amongst boys if you will... It's potent flavor profile has me reaching time and time again for the glass as I type away at this review... the finish is long and slow and luxurious with the yeast and fruit holding on for dear life...waiting for the next sip...

I'm convinced.... Allagash would be the brewery I would choose to distribute to my state without a doubt. I've sung their praises to friends for years now and this beer just serves to prove my point... Everything those guys do is on a different level than others....

This very well could be the longest review that I've ever written but this beer is worth it without a doubt...

October 2005 bottling. Sun-splashed lemon with a wealth of fine carbonation enlisted in the creation of a regal white head. The texture of the foam isn't quite as spectacular as on most authentically Belgian ales, but it's still mighty attractive. Thick sheets of lace look like they'll stick until the cows come home. Like most Allagash beer, this one is a looker.

The nose is very nice, it's just that I was expecting some indication that the beer was actually aged in Jim Beam barrels. It smells like an excellent, impressively fruity tripel that... wait just a minute... a few more sniffs deliver a little woodiness... that still isn't very whiskey-like. Here's hoping the flavor profile is as advertised. [note: warming opens up the nose so much that it approaches the quality of the flavor at roughly the midway mark of the bottle.]

Curieux is outstanding beer! For some strange reason, my nose didn't identify what my palate is having no trouble identifying and greeting like an old friend. Allagash says there's a 'hint of bourbon'. I respectfully disagree. There's as much bourbon whiskey present as there is tripel. It's no surprise that these guys have found the perfect balance between the base beer (Tripel Reserve) and the flavor imparted by the wood.

Their decision to age the beer in bourbon barrels has done several things. It has effectively eliminated the ethereal complexity of Tripel Reserve and has replaced it with the power and deliciousness of Kentucky's finest. As a bourbon fanatic, I love the outcome. It's as if the brewers created an entirely new world-class beer from one that was world-class to begin with.

The flavor profile consists of ripe, buttery pears; caramelized sugar; charred oak and a huge splash of vanilla. Allagash has definitely done their homework (as always) because they've managed to imbue the beer with the very essence of the barrels' former occupant. As far as I'm concerned, the decision to age the beer eight weeks was perfect.

I love those light and airy Belgian tripels and I also love this one. It's heavily silky, lightly sticky and aggressively carbonated. When the bubbles wear off on the swallow, the flavor lingers with a determination that reminds me of my favorite bourbons. Not only that, but the huge ABV is warming me nicely and is beginning to blur my senses. Time to slow down so that I can finish this review with some sort of coherence.

Curieux had three huge things going for it right off the bat. It's brewed by Allagash, it uses Tripel Reserve (one of my favorite tripels) as its base beer, and it's aged in bourbon barrels (my favorite liquor). Therefore, I'm not the least bit surprised that I've been gobsmacked yet again. If you like beautifully crafted, amazingly delicious, Belgian-style ales with an American flair, it doesn't get any better than Allagash Curieux.

A: A golden beer with an orange hue and moderate haze. The white head is a mix of mostly compact bubbles with a few larger soapy bubbles mixed in. It leaves a fine lacing on the glass.

S: A medium-strong orange aroma with medium-light black pepper note and a light malt sweetness. The oak brings medium aromas of vanilla and coconut notes with a subtle whisky character in the background. There is a low floral alcohol aroma.

T: There is a blend of flavors matching the aroma just differing in intensity. The orange still dominates but the honey-like malt sweetness taken with coconut and vanilla from the oak and the light perfume-like, floral quality from the alcohol combine into a sort of adult candy thing, in the vain of how a black licorice or horehound isn't a kids candy. With a medium hops bitterness and a near equal sweetness the balance is about even, but the bitterness has a bit more staying power in the medium finish. The aftertaste is of orange and a slight orange peel bitterness with a light spice note.

M: A medium-full bodied beer with a strong level of carbonation.

O: A flavorful Belgian Tripel with a balanced oak character that compliments the beer and adds to the complex flavors.

The alcoholic aroma of the triple with wafts of bourbon wood (vanilla) and some mixed tropical fruit.

Very smooth with a mellow but stiff alcohol character, warming with undertones of vanilla and ripe fruit. The woody character melds well with the hop bitterness and spiciness of the alcohol with a drying bite.

Simply amazing. Amazing within the realm of barrel aged beer let alone doing it with a more delicate Belgian Style Trippel.

A: A rusty, dark golden body with less than 1 fingers width of white colored head. Its hazy to the point of being opaque. Head dissipates down pretty quickly and leaves a few patches of lacing. 4

S: Spicy characters and a bit of fruity esters, very subtle oaky vanilla. Some booze. Surprisingly the aromas as a whole are very muted, I don’t get much at all. 3.25

T: Much more flavorful than the aroma implied. Barrel notes are noticeable right away with oaky vanilla bourbon character. There are some dark fruit characters and candied sugar that’s reminiscent of a barley. A bit of biting bitterness. Some spicy characters and fruity esters show the base beer. A bit of booze shows the ABV. I am surprised how noticeable the bourbon characters are considering it was only barrel aged for 8 weeks. Good balance and quite complex. 4.25

M/D: Full bodied, carbonation on the higher end which is appropriate, a biting quality from the combo of booze/spice/bitterness, ABV is noticeable but its not hot, drinkability is above average for the ABV. 4

O: Not much going on with the aroma, but very good flavor. An enjoyable beer, but not worth the nearly $20 a bottle price tag. 4

Look: Nice hazy golden yellow with a short white head that left good lacing

Smell: Sweet, Belgian yeasts that have been mellowed out a bit

Taste: Mellow Belgian yeasts, subtle bourbon and oak

Feel: Medium body, full crisp carbonation

Overall: Excellent tripel, however I wouldn't have guessed that it is barrel aged if I wasn't told. However, I think the barrel here mostly serves to mellow out some of the stronger flavors and bring harmony to everything. So maybe the barrel not being obvious is a good thing and shows some real benefit rather than a hot boozy mess that tastes like weak bourbon.

Definitely get the oak on the nose in the sense of vanilla and coconut cream. In the mouth the bourbon barrel aging is apparent in the creamy mouth-feel and the coconut and vanilla flavors. Overall this is an impressive effort that has enough substance to cover up the 11% abv with creamy coconut and vanilla flavors. If there is a down side it's that this is all about creamy coconut and vanilla, if that's not to you're liking you'll not enjoy this - but it works for me.

Pours dark gold, very effervescent, with a tight white head. Basically looks like a strong Belgian blonde. Maybe not quite as pretty as Duvel, but close.

Smells at first like a strong Belgian Blonde: heavy yeast, big spice complexities. After a few minutes it opens up a bit more and strong nodes of hop come through along with a little hint of bourbon.

Tastes like a bourbony Orval, if that makes any sense. Pronounced hops and spice start things off, moving into a lightly tart and boozy middle with nodes of white pepper and green apples. Ends swimmingly, with the hops returning against pleasant whiskey burn. There's a ton going on here, and it all comes together perfectly.

Had on tap at Sticks ans Stones tonight.Poured into a goblit a lightly hazed lighter golden with a nicely formed white head.Aromas are big in the bourbon barrel department with mild phenols and spiced pears,a nice mix of things going on.Sweet bourbon vanilla flavors along with more sweet alcohol,spiced phenols are there but kept in check pretty well,some boozy fruit in the finish.A nice barrel aged tripel not over the top bourbon wise but it packs a kick.

Huge vanilla/oak aroma is surprisingly balanced out by a luscious tropical fruit medley of lime, apricot, papaya, and an abundance of peach skin.

Smooth and warming feel with a bit of an alcohol bite/burn. Tropical fruit flavors are overwhelmed by the boozey/oaky/vanilla character. I find the barrel aging to be a detraction from an already solid, albeit delicate beer. Some spice and hop bitterness manages to shine through the booze.

Drinkability is destroyed by the barrel aging.

Not my cup of tea at all, but Im not that in to barrel aging of most beers.

A- Pours a crisp and clear orange fluid with active carbonation leading to a one inch head that falls to a thick froth leaving excellent patchy lacing.

S- Scents of fresh Belgian yeast upfront with grassy and citrus hops and light bourbon hints on the nose in alcohol fumes.

T-M- Taste is very tame for what I expected. Mild touches of Triple qualities of yeast, fresh citrusy hops, warming alcohol and very smooth and light bourbon flavors. At 11% I will say i'm amazed at the smooth mouthfeel from start to finish. Alcohol is hidden even at room temp. Wow. Light carbonation on the tongue allows this Triple to go down with a slight warming of the throat as it passes down to the belly.

D- Great beer hands down but for the price of 17.49 a 750Ml i'll most likely pass. Light bourbon notes compared to a regular barrel aged beer but with the mouthfeel and drinkablity of this one who gives a shit??? Cheers!